Effect of Euglena cells on blood pressure, cerebral and peripheral vascular changes and life-span in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Abstract

Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) were fed a diet based on Euglena dry cells (Euglena gracilis z) as a protein source from 5 weeks of age, and observed until natural death or sacrifice at 35 weeks of age in order to examine the effects of the diet on blood pressure, incidence of cerebral stroke lesions and life-span.The results were as follows : (1) The Euglena diet had no significant effect on blood pressure, but obvious prolongation of life-span was observed. The incidence of cerebral stroke and hypertensive vascular lesions was somewhat lower than in control rats. (2) In the Euglena diet group sacrificed at 35 weeks of age, a reduced incidence of cerebral stroke lesions, a lower incidence hypertensive vascular lesions in the kidneys, testes and adrenals, suppressed elevation of plasma renin activity (PRA), and a less marked decrease in the elastin content of the aorta were recognized.Moreover, this group showed fewer changes in electron microscopical findings in the mesenteric arteries.(3) The lipid peroxide level (TBARS value) in the serum of the control group showed an increase after 15 weeks of age when cerebral vascular lesions began to develop, but that in the Euglena diet group remained almost unchanged.These results suggest that the effect of a Euglena diet in prolonging the life-span of SHRSP might be due to delayed aging or destruction of elastic fibers of the aorta.

Suppressive Action of Docosahexaenoic Acid Enriched-Euglena on Reduction of Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation in Stroke-Prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHRSP).

“…It is also known that treatment with antihypertensive drugs has a preventive effect even after the onset of hypertension (26,27). The authors reported (14,28) results suggesting that the progression of vascular disorder can be blocked by nutritional improvement even if hypotensive action is not observed. Recently, the authors reported that the ACE activity of the aorta was lowered in SHRSP fed a Euglena diet from the advanced stage of hypertension (22).…”

“…The authors, using SHRSP, studied the prevention and therapy of cerebral stroke by nutritional approach using Euglena as the protein source . When an Euglena diet was administered to SHRSP before the onset of hypertension, it prevented stroke and prolonged the life-span although the suppressive effect on blood pressure elevation was not significant (14). In SHRSP fed this diet, suppression of the decrease in elastin, an elastic protein composing the vascular wall, and suppression of hypertrophy through lowering the ACE activity of the vascular wall (14,22) were noted.…”

“…Blood pressure elevation in the DHAEuglena diet group was somewhat suppressed, and endothelium dependent relaxation was clearly higher as compared to the control group; the relaxation rate was similar to that of normotensive WKY, and it was shown that the impairment of vascular endothelium was slight in the SHRSP of the DHA-Euglena diet group. We have already noted (14) in the electron microscopic observation of endothelial cells, elastic fibers and smooth muscle cells of the mesenteric artery of SHRSP fed a Euglena diet, that impairment of the arterial wall is slight in the Euglena diet group as compared to the control diet group . The results of the present experiment support the finding physiologically.…”

Long-term feeding with Euglena gracilis cells modulates immune responses, oxidative balance and metabolic condition in Diplodon chilensis (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Hyriidae) exposed to living Escherichia coli

“…Euglena species cells constitute a rich source of the b-1,3-glucan paramylon [1], proteins [2], polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, b-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E [3e6]. These cells are commonly used in fish aquaculture to improve the diet nutritional value [7,8], while bglucans have been tested for improving somatic growth in crustaceans and fish, e.g.…”

Hypocholesterolemic effect of phototrophic bacterial cells in rats.

“…Among those components studied are carotenoids (13,14) and nonsaponifiable components (15), fats (16), phospholipids (17) , dietary fiber (18), saponins (19), garlic oil (20), and non-protein components of edible mushroom (21). A number of studies have been also conducted on the microbial cells, Spirulina platensis (22,23), Chlorella (24), and Euglena (25) for their effects on plasma cholesterol and blood pressure in rats.…”